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Surgeon Resignation Spurs Public Uproar

Citizens Plan Open Forum to Discuss Troubles at the Vineyard
Hospital; Early February Meeting Discussed

By JULIA WELLS

Heated opinions continue to percolate in the Vineyard community this
week regarding the recent conflict between the chief executive officer
of and a leading surgeon at Martha's Vineyard Hospital.

Dr. Richard Koehler, a highly skilled laparoscopic surgeon who has
worked for the Vineyard hospital for the last seven years, announced two
weeks ago that he will sever his contract with the hospital. Dr. Koehler
cited irreconcilable differences with hospital CEO Kevin Burchill as the
reason for his resignation.

In an open letter to the Vineyard community, Dr. Koehler announced
that he would invoke a voluntary six-month termination clause in his
contract, ending his work there on July 8.

Dr. Koehler's announcement was framed around pointed remarks
about what he described as the failings of both the hospital's
administration and board of trustees.

The clash has caused shock waves throughout the Vineyard community.

Last week, letters to the editor began to pour in, and this week the
flow of letters continued with no letup. For the second week in a row,
the Gazette received more letters than it had space to print.

Meanwhile, a web site has been established by a group of people who
support Dr. Koehler and are planning a community forum on hospital
issues. The web site was set up by Deborah Mayhew, a resident of West
Tisbury.

By yesterday afternoon more than 400 people had signed a petition at
the web site, many of them adding comments.

"Richard Koehler cannot be replaced," wrote Neal
Stiller. "I have talked to many hospital personnel as to where he
rates as a surgeon on a scale of one to 10. He gets a perfect 10 every
time."

"As a physician at the hospital I can assure you that the
hospital administration and the board of trustees have no clue as to the
depth of dissatisfaction that we as a medical staff are feeling,"
wrote Dr. John Preston, a former hospital physician. "There
doesn't seem to be any interest in either retaining the quality
doctors that are here or recruiting talented young physicians who can
start to build lifelong practices," Dr. Preston wrote.

"The current situation at the hospital is a reflection of its
longtime neglect in its communication and relationship to the
community," wrote Margery Meltzer.

Yesterday, a Chilmark resident who is leading the effort to host a
forum said he hopes for an event that will create a meeting of the minds
on all fronts.

"I think there is a real disconnect between the public and the
hospital that has been bubbling for a long time, but the Koehler thing
exploded it," said Peter Simon.

Mr. Simon said the forum will include a panel of speakers, and that
Dr. Koehler, Dr. Jason Lew, Dr. Stuart Kendall and Dr. Rocco Monto have
already agreed to be on the panel. Mr. Simon said he also plans to
invite a spokesman for the nurses, some hospital trustees and Mr.
Burchill to join the panel.

"Everyone thinks I have an agenda here against the board and
Burchill and I really don't - my agenda is to have it be a
win-win if that's possible," Mr. Simon said. "Since I
moved here year-round in 1986, this is the most critical issue that has
ever arisen."

The forum is set for Feb. 5, but the time and place had not been
decided at press time yesterday. An announcement with more details is
expected next week.